UCD pepper-spray video inspires viral art

Lt. John Pike, the policeman filmed pepper spraying Occupy UC Davis protestors on campus on Nov. 18, is getting his 15 minutes of fame - and then some - as the Internet fills up with memes of the officer in action.

Pepper-spraying cop meets Edouard Manet's 'Le Dejeuner sur l'Herbe'

(Credit: <a href="http://jockohomo.tumblr.com/">James Alex/Tumbler</a>)

Here's a video of Pike using pepper spray on a group of seated students.

Pike even gets to Michelangelo's work on the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

(Credit: Know Your Meme)

Pike has since been suspended from duty. For the officer, this is undoubtedly not the sort of publicity he craved. Still, for someone who emerged from similar obscurity to grab the public limelight, this is a remarkable milepost in the history of Internet memes. By Monday afternoon, a search of Pike's name turned up 4,290,000 mentions on Google.

A new subject in Archibald Willard's 'The Spirit of '76.'

(Credit: James Alex/Tumblr)

[DocD--2008]

Two things need to be done, first Pike needs a full canister of pepper spray emptied on his crotch, then he needs to be prosecuted for assault under the color of authority, a felony.

[PannyHappy]

Tony Baloney and Lt. Pike - recipients of the public disdain they have earned.

[dallasalice60]

Way to go Pike!We could use you in our DPS

[canislupus16]

Pike, what a lard a$$. Type of sub-human trash you know has a bad temper and bullying attitude. He didn't become a cop to serve, he bacame a cop to hide behind a badge and beat on people. Probably because he didn't get any in high school, and to make up for his lack of equipment.